Is it just me, or does it feel as though spring has come a bit ahead of schedule this year? I’m quite certain I have seen the daffodils and crocuses popping up much earlier than usual. This is not necessarily a bad thing as, after the darker, colder winter days, one is happy to see the signs of change, colour and – of course – warmth!
Nevertheless, our VFMP program has been moving along at a steady pace despite the long days of winter. Our renewed curriculum is well underway and the Class of 2019 will complete the first year in the new format this May. In August, we will begin the first iteration of the renewed Year 2 with the Class of 2019 while the incoming class of 2020 will be the second cohort of the renewed Year 1. These events are key milestones in our curriculum renewal journey. We have also been preparing for the renewed Year 3 for 2017-18, and plans are underway for the renewed Year 4 the following year. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Curriculum Renewal team and to all who have been involved in this project.
Our students definitely haven’t been deterred by the rainy, cold winter months. Not only are they excelling academically, but they are also sharing their talents and gifts in so many other areas and are always finding ways to participate in and give back to their communities. I am continually blown away by these admirable displays of diversity, creativity and generosity. You will be able to read about some of these student-led initiatives in this newsletter.
Finally, it is an exciting time for our VFMP Class of 2016! 96 per cent of this year’s graduates matched to postgraduate training programs in the first round of CaRMS. As the CaRMS match is becoming more competitive, this is an impressive accomplishment. With their upcoming graduation later this spring, our students are ready to begin the next phase in their journey to becoming healthcare providers in British Columbia and beyond. I would like to offer my sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to our graduates. At the end the day, you are why we are all here – and you make us proud of the work we do in support of your education as medical professionals.
I do hope you enjoy this update from our program and will join me in celebrating our successes.
Warmly,
Amil Shah, MDCM, FRCPC, FACP
Regional Associate Dean, Vancouver Fraser
Clinical Professor, Medicine